WWE Royal Rumble predictions

Published: Saturday, January 26, 2013 at 5:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, January 28, 2013 at 12:37 a.m.

WWE presents the Royal Rumble on Sunday night from Phoenix, Ariz.

Headlining the show is the annual Royal Rumble match.

Did you know that the Royal Rumble has had 724 entrants, that HBK has the most eliminations with 39, that Kane has 35 eliminations and the most in one Rumble with 1 in 2001, that Rey Mysterio lasted 62 minutes and 12 seconds in one Rumble, that Stone Cold Steve Austin has three wins, that the No. 27 entrant has won four times and that 58 percent of Rumble match winners go on to win a world title?

But this year, the Royal Rumble match topped by a much-bigger match, when CM Punk defends his WWE Championship against The Rock.

Let's review the card, listed in my predicted order of matches:

Antonio Cesaro vs. The Miz for U.S. title during the pre-game show. ANALYSIS: The Miz doesn't need the U.S. title. Cesaro is a great heel champion. PICK: Cesaro.

WWE Tag Team Champions Kane & Daniel Bryan vs. Cody Rhodes & Damien Sandow. ANALYSIS: It makes sense to lead with this match and let these guys rest up for the Royal Rumble match. Kane and Daniel Bryan have really given the tag-team division a much-needed lift. But I see Bryan going back to singles action, so a loss here is necessary. Plus, Rhodes and Sandow are just as entertaining. PICK: Rhodes/Sandow.

WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio vs. Big Show in a last man standing match. ANALYSIS: I don't think WWE put the belt on Del Rio to take it away from him so soon. Del Rio, now a face, is the current version of Rey Mysterio. WWE will stick with him. Plus, Big Show is rumored to be facing Ryback at WrestleMania 29. That doesn't need to be for the title. PICK: Del Rio.

The Royal Rumble match: Check out my last JAWBreaker blog post with the full list of 18 confirmed and 30 "official" names. My off-the-wall prediction is AJ Lee taking Dolph Ziggler's spot in the No. 1 or No. 2 spot. Or maybe AJ (or Big E. Langston) will be No. 1 and Ziggler No. 2. I expect the final eight to be John Cena, Randy Orton, Sheamus, Ryback, Dolph Ziggler, Wade Barrett, The Miz and Daniel Bryan. The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins) could sneak someone into the final four. However, I think Cena, Orton, Sheamus and Ryback will be the final four. PICK: Orton.

Divas Champion Kaitlyn vs. Tamina Snuka. ANALYSIS: It makes sense to have a throwaway match, something that can be quick, between the two biggest matches. Snuka is a very credible contender, but Kaitlyn needs the win here for credibility. Maybe a DQ or countout of some kind to keep this feud going. PICK: Kaitlyn.

Ryback's promo. REACT: Announcer Matt Striker did a great job here. Ryback's "Swiss miss/Swiss cheese" line, followed by "that was a joke" was funny.

Ryback beats Antonio Cesaro by countout. REACT: Cesaro cut a solid "feed me more" entitled promo. He really is a polished eight-month veteran. Solid match, and a push for The Miz-Cesaro with The Miz tossing Cesaro back into the ring.

Big Show promo. REACT: More solid stuff from Striker.

The Rhodes Scholars beat The Usos. REACT: I loved the "unwashed tag teams with limited potential" line from Damien Sandow. Match dragged but picked up at the end with a solid finish.

ANALYSIS: I will be shocked if this show ever gets below a C grade. GRADE: B-.

TNA Wrestling Impact

Teflon Tazz. REACT: I like Tazz's "untouchable" angle. He is a great choice to be a much-needed mouthpiece for Aces & Eights.

Robert Roode beats Hernandez. REACT: Decent. Hernandez's power game helped.

Kurt Angle and Mr. Anderson push steel-cage match. REACT: Yes!

Jeff Hardy beats Christopher Daniels. REACT: Smart 2-on-1 early disadvantage for Hardy, who provided some needed offense. I liked the front-drop suplex off the top rope by Hardy. Strong finishing sequence picked up the match. One hammer shot seemed too weak to take out Hardy.

ANALYSIS: I didnt care much for this show. Nothing great. GRADE: D+.

WWE Smackdown

Kane said he will toss out 29. REACT: That means he has to be the No. 2 entrant. He better hope Dolph Ziggler doesn't want to be the No. 2 entrant.

CM Punk chats and The Rock joins in. REACT: I liked Punk saying he is scared of his own potential. Calling out The Shield didn't seem timely, but maybe it's necessary to reinforce that Punk doesn't want their help. The Rock had a good match push. I didn't like how Punk seemed scared after The Rock said, "It's over."

Randy Orton beats Drew McIntyre by DQ. REACT: I didn't care for the run-in, but this helped make Orton more of a force by overcoming the odds.

The Miz beats Darren Young. REACT: Better figure four this time.

Alberto Del Rio/Kane/Daniel Bryan beat Big Show/Cody Rhodes/Damien Sandow. REACT: I liked the match format, with Kane eliminating Sandow, Kane and Bryan being counted out, Big Show being counted out and Del Rio beating Rhodes. Nice match pace. I'm surprised WWE did the announcers' table spot again. I really liked the two 10 counts, with one in English and one in Spanish.

ANALYSIS: Pretty strong go-home show heading into the Royal Rumble. GRADE: B+.

<p>WWE presents the Royal Rumble on Sunday night from Phoenix, Ariz.</p><p>Headlining the show is the annual Royal Rumble match.</p><p>Did you know that the Royal Rumble has had 724 entrants, that HBK has the most eliminations with 39, that Kane has 35 eliminations and the most in one Rumble with 1 in 2001, that Rey Mysterio lasted 62 minutes and 12 seconds in one Rumble, that Stone Cold Steve Austin has three wins, that the No. 27 entrant has won four times and that 58 percent of Rumble match winners go on to win a world title?</p><p>But this year, the Royal Rumble match topped by a much-bigger match, when CM Punk defends his WWE Championship against The Rock.</p><p>Let's review the card, listed in my predicted order of matches:</p><p>Antonio Cesaro vs. The Miz for U.S. title during the pre-game show. ANALYSIS: The Miz doesn't need the U.S. title. Cesaro is a great heel champion. PICK: Cesaro.</p><p>WWE Tag Team Champions Kane & Daniel Bryan vs. Cody Rhodes & Damien Sandow. ANALYSIS: It makes sense to lead with this match and let these guys rest up for the Royal Rumble match. Kane and Daniel Bryan have really given the tag-team division a much-needed lift. But I see Bryan going back to singles action, so a loss here is necessary. Plus, Rhodes and Sandow are just as entertaining. PICK: Rhodes/Sandow.</p><p>WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio vs. Big Show in a last man standing match. ANALYSIS: I don't think WWE put the belt on Del Rio to take it away from him so soon. Del Rio, now a face, is the current version of Rey Mysterio. WWE will stick with him. Plus, Big Show is rumored to be facing Ryback at WrestleMania 29. That doesn't need to be for the title. PICK: Del Rio.</p><p>The Royal Rumble match: Check out my last JAWBreaker blog post with the full list of 18 confirmed and 30 "official" names. My off-the-wall prediction is AJ Lee taking Dolph Ziggler's spot in the No. 1 or No. 2 spot. Or maybe AJ (or Big E. Langston) will be No. 1 and Ziggler No. 2. I expect the final eight to be John Cena, Randy Orton, Sheamus, Ryback, Dolph Ziggler, Wade Barrett, The Miz and Daniel Bryan. The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins) could sneak someone into the final four. However, I think Cena, Orton, Sheamus and Ryback will be the final four. PICK: Orton.</p><p>Divas Champion Kaitlyn vs. Tamina Snuka. ANALYSIS: It makes sense to have a throwaway match, something that can be quick, between the two biggest matches. Snuka is a very credible contender, but Kaitlyn needs the win here for credibility. Maybe a DQ or countout of some kind to keep this feud going. PICK: Kaitlyn.</p><p>C.M. Punk vs. The Rock for the WWE title. ANALYSIS: The Rock doesn't need the strap yet. Let Punk win here, and let The Rock win at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view. PICK: Punk.</p><p><b>SHOW REVIEWS</b></p><p><b>WWE Main Event</b></p><p>Ryback's promo. REACT: Announcer Matt Striker did a great job here. Ryback's "Swiss miss/Swiss cheese" line, followed by "that was a joke" was funny.</p><p>Ryback beats Antonio Cesaro by countout. REACT: Cesaro cut a solid "feed me more" entitled promo. He really is a polished eight-month veteran. Solid match, and a push for The Miz-Cesaro with The Miz tossing Cesaro back into the ring.</p><p>Big Show promo. REACT: More solid stuff from Striker.</p><p>The Rhodes Scholars beat The Usos. REACT: I loved the "unwashed tag teams with limited potential" line from Damien Sandow. Match dragged but picked up at the end with a solid finish.</p><p><b>ANALYSIS:</b> I will be shocked if this show ever gets below a C grade. <b>GRADE: B-.</b></p><p><b>TNA Wrestling Impact</b></p><p>Teflon Tazz. REACT: I like Tazz's "untouchable" angle. He is a great choice to be a much-needed mouthpiece for Aces & Eights.</p><p>Christopher Daniels clips. REACT: Solid.</p><p>Tara beats Velvet Sky. REACT: Nothing special. Velvet helped quicken the pace. Decent finish with Jesse's involvement.</p><p>Kenny King and Zema Ion chat. REACT: Egos.</p><p>Joseph Park cuts Open Fight Night promo. REACT: Yawn.</p><p>Kenny King/Zema Ion beat Rob Van Dam/Christian York. REACT: Match picked up when all four were in the ring. OK finish with the pin argument.</p><p>Kurt Angle has buddy talk with Garett Bischoff and Wes Brisco. REACT: I saw where this was going weeks ago.</p><p>Tazz bails before Bully Ray and Brooke Hogan talk. REACT: Bully Ray cut a strong promo. I liked Sting taking his side for reinstatement.</p><p>Austin Aries and Robert Roode chat. REACT: Comical verbal exchange over "fluke."</p><p>Jeff Hardy promo. REACT: Surprisingly strong.</p><p>Robert Roode beats Hernandez. REACT: Decent. Hernandez's power game helped.</p><p>Kurt Angle and Mr. Anderson push steel-cage match. REACT: Yes!</p><p>Jeff Hardy beats Christopher Daniels. REACT: Smart 2-on-1 early disadvantage for Hardy, who provided some needed offense. I liked the front-drop suplex off the top rope by Hardy. Strong finishing sequence picked up the match. One hammer shot seemed too weak to take out Hardy.</p><p><b>ANALYSIS:</b> I didnt care much for this show. Nothing great. <b>GRADE: D+.</b></p><p><b>WWE Smackdown</b></p><p>Kane said he will toss out 29. REACT: That means he has to be the No. 2 entrant. He better hope Dolph Ziggler doesn't want to be the No. 2 entrant.</p><p>Big Show promo. REACT: Solid.</p><p>Damien Sandow, Cody Rhodes and Alberto Del Rio join the ring. REACT: Solid main-event setup.</p><p>Sheamus beats Wade Barrett. REACT: Huge statement win and loss for these guys of similar styles. Strong match finish.</p><p>Natalya beats Rosa Mendes. REACT: Horrible, although Hornswoggle's dance distraction was decent.</p><p>CM Punk chats and The Rock joins in. REACT: I liked Punk saying he is scared of his own potential. Calling out The Shield didn't seem timely, but maybe it's necessary to reinforce that Punk doesn't want their help. The Rock had a good match push. I didn't like how Punk seemed scared after The Rock said, "It's over."</p><p>Randy Orton beats Drew McIntyre by DQ. REACT: I didn't care for the run-in, but this helped make Orton more of a force by overcoming the odds.</p><p>The Miz beats Darren Young. REACT: Better figure four this time.</p><p>Alberto Del Rio/Kane/Daniel Bryan beat Big Show/Cody Rhodes/Damien Sandow. REACT: I liked the match format, with Kane eliminating Sandow, Kane and Bryan being counted out, Big Show being counted out and Del Rio beating Rhodes. Nice match pace. I'm surprised WWE did the announcers' table spot again. I really liked the two 10 counts, with one in English and one in Spanish.</p><p><b>ANALYSIS:</b> Pretty strong go-home show heading into the Royal Rumble. <b>GRADE: B+.</b></p><p><b>LATEST HEADLINES AND MY REACTS</b></p><p><b>WWE</b></p><p>Antonio Cesaro is "Mr. Main Event." REACT: Doesn't fit his anti-U.S. character.</p><p>Terry Funk to induct Mick Foley into the Hall of Fame? REACT: For some reason,that surprises me.</p><p>Goldberg teases return of the spear. REACT: Meaning?</p><p>Alberto Del Rio vs. Dolph Ziggler at WrestleMania 29. REACT: Possible.</p><p>Brock Lesnar rumored to feud with CM Punk and Randy Orton. REACT: For some reason, I don't see a Punk-Lesnar feud.</p><p>Zack Ryder said he overcame cancer in high school. REACT: Inspirational.</p><p><b>TNA Wrestling</b></p><p>Kid Kash gone. Christian York gone? REACT: Kash hasn't been used much recently. York should stay.</p><p>Three more years for Kurt Angle. REACT: Angle is one of the best ever.</p><p>Bully Ray said Devon and him were initiated by JBL and Ron Simmons. REACT: Not surprising.</p>